Author: Michael Tario

NSC Memorial Day Holiday Period Traffic Fatalities Estimate for 2023

We’ve had a beautiful May in the Pacific Northwest this year and that tends to get people out and planning to get together with friends and family. On holiday weekends like Memorial Day, thousands of barbeques and parties get planned all over the country and that means more cars on the roads as people travel to and from their destinations. Sadly, whenever there are more cars on the road combined with holiday drinking car accidents and traffic fatalities increase. This Memorial Day period*, the National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that 469 people may die on U.S. roads. In addition, they estimate that 53,400 people will seek medical care for injuries they sustain in crashes over the holiday weekend.

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How Are Motorcycle Cases Different from Car Accident Cases?

According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, motorcycles made up only about three percent of road users in Washington State, but accounted for 15 percent of all traffic fatalities and 19 percent of all serious injuries in collisions between 2013 and 2017. About one in five motorcycle cases results in serious injury or death. As a result, an average of 75 motorcyclists lose their lives every year in collisions on Washington roads. These statistics have remained relatively unchanged for more than a decade.

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What to Know About Foot and Ankle Injuries in Car Accidents

Ankle and foot injuries are common in car accidents, particularly in side-impact or T-bone collisions. The sudden impact and force of a car accident can cause the ankle and foot to twist, bend, or be crushed, resulting in a range of injuries, from minor sprains to severe fractures and even amputation.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident and are experiencing symptoms of an ankle or foot injury, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Early diagnosis and treatment can improve your chances of a full recovery. You may also benefit from consulting with an experienced car accident lawyer who can discuss your legal rights and help your fight for full and fair compensation for your losses.

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Common Causes of School Bus Accidents

School buses transport millions of children to and from school every day. While school buses are considered to be one of the safest forms of transportation for students, accidents can still happen. School bus accidents can be devastating, causing injuries, trauma, and even fatalities – especially to people in the other vehicle who don’t have the protection of a school bus.

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It’s Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month: Motorcycle Accident Statistics

May 2023 is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month by the United States Department of Transportation. Motorcyclists are more vulnerable to injuries when involved in motor vehicle accidents with cars because there is so much less protection on a motorcycle. The four major marketing campaigns for motorcycle safety awareness month are:

1. Motorist awareness of motorcycles. One of the biggest safety risks to motorcyclists is when drivers fail to see them. The campaign is designed to help drivers understand standard motorcycle driving behaviors and to learn how to drive safely around motorcycles.
2. Ride Sober or Get Pulled Over. One of the two biggest causes of motorcycle accidents is riding while intoxicated.
3. Rider safety. Defensive riding and other safety skills are an important part of rider safety.
4. Share the road. When motorcycles and other vehicles share the road, the risk of motorcycle accidents decreases.

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Washington State Car Accident Statistics

Over 7 million people live in Washington State with many regions experiencing high population density. With high density comes a large volume of vehicles on the roads and highways, which increases the risk of car accidents. There are thousands of accidents in Washington State every year that cause hundreds of injuries and fatalities. Let’s take a look at some recent Washington State car accident statistics.

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Parental Responsibility for Accidents After a Party Thrown in Their Home

As parents we have a parental responsibility to keep our children safe. As they get older, children may wish to throw parties for their friends in your home and as the parent, it is your responsibility to ensure that the event is safe and responsible. Failure to ensure that everyone is behaving responsibility can result in serious consequences for parents, including legal liability, financial damages, and long-lasting injuries.

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It’s Work Zone Awareness Week: How to Reduce Your Chances of Work Zone Accidents

It’s Work Zone Awareness Week. This week is the start of an annual spring campaign scheduled for the start of construction season aimed at encouraging safe driving through highway work zones to reduce the risk of work zone accidents. The main message of the campaign is that drivers should use extra caution in work zones because these areas can be hazardous to both drivers and workers.

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How Does the Discovery Rule Affect Personal Injury Cases?

Under Washington State’s statute of limitations laws, the injured party (plaintiff) generally has three years from the date of the incident to file a personal injury claim. But a legal doctrine called the “discovery rule” can sometimes extend this time frame, allowing victims to seek justice even if they were unaware of the injury for some time after the incident occurred. The discovery rule says that the three-year clock can be stopped if the injured party could not reasonably have discovered their injuries until a later date.

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How Traffic Tickets Affect Injury Claims

It is a fact that the majority of accidents are caused by driver error and negligent driving. In practical terms, this often means that a driver commits traffic violations that cause a collision. Common traffic violations that increase the risk of accidents are:

• Speeding
• Running a red light
• Running a stop sign
• Failure to yield
• Failure to stop
• Failure to use turn signals
• Disobeying road signs
• Improper U-turn
• Improper lane change
• Improper passing
• Driving off the road

If you or a loved one was injured in a motor vehicle accident because of a traffic violation committed by another driver, you may be wondering how traffic tickets affect injury claims. Contact a car accident lawyer to discuss your legal rights; you are entitled to a personal injury settlement that covers your damages.

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